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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2017


Results beginning to germinate from seed trials Research aims to strengthen local food systems


by DAVID SCHMIDT


ABBOTSFORD – The first season of the BC Seed Trials is already bearing results. “Our goal is to contribute


to a resilient agrifood system in BC,” UBC post-doctoral researcher Alex Lyons told organic growers at the Pacific Agriculture Show on January 28. “We are looking for varieties which work well for local commercial growers.” Lyons said the trials aim to find superior crop varieties, evaluate their performance in local conditions and help develop a BC seed network. “We selected crops which


are valuable for the fresh market, need improvement and could be a good niche for BC seed growers,” she said. Two mother sites – UBC


Farm in Vancouver for certified organic seeds and Wisbey Veggies in Abbotsford for conventional seeds – provided material for the 2016 trials, which took place at 12 farms. Crops selected for the 2016 trials included kale, spinach and beets. “In kale, we were looking


for winter-hardy varieties with a deep green colour, savoy texture, long medium-wide


leaves and a tall, open plant structure,” Lyons said. After trialling 14 varieties of


kale, Lyons listed Cavolo Nero, Toscano and Black Magic as her top recommendations for local growers. She was unable to provide accurate yield data on any of the varieties, saying it’s “difficult” to measure yields on crops that are harvested weekly.


The trial included 13 varieties of golden beets. In that case, Lyons was looking for disease resistance, good germination, smooth roots and attractive tops which could be bunch harvested. She said Chioggia and


Golden germinated best at UBC Farm while Touchstone Gold had the best root appearance and top structure. In spinach, Lyons hoped to find a variety with upright leaves which harvests well in late fall. Results were mixed; germination varied across the different farm sites. Lyons is dropping kale from the 2017 trials as she believes local growers now have enough information to make informed decisions.


She will trial golden beets


for another year and move the spinach trials into winter hoop houses. She is also adding


Nantes carrots and winter leeks to this year’s trials. “We expect to trial 30 open-pollinated varieties of leeks,” she told growers. FarmFolk CityFolk (FFCF)


co-sponsors the seed trials as part of its outreach and


engagement initiatives. FFCF seed trial co-ordinator


Chris Thoreau says the trials allow FFCF staff to visit farms and discuss specific needs with the farmers. “It’s good for farmers to have researchers come to


them,” he said, adding that the trials also give FFCF and UBC a chance to promote the farms they work with through on-farm field days. “We’re trying to build on the sense of consumers being participatory.”


Forage manual now available


by CHRIS YATES SMITHERS – It’s no secret that food


production can be a complicated and mysterious process at times. Not to mention risky. Determining how to meet your goals without losing your shirt can be a challenge. A just-completed research project in North Central BC might make it possible to get the information you need in less time and with less risk. Following a two-year plus process involving


farmer volunteers, scientists, agrologists and academics, a BC Forage Council (BCFC) initiative entitled Demonstrating Innovative Forage Production Practices to Increase Climate Change Adaptation has resulted in a step-by-step manual for meaningful independent research on the farm. Designed by the BCFC and BC Ministry of


Agriculture (BCMA), the project was implemented by Dr. Catherine Tarasoff of Agrowest Consulting and BCMA regional agrologist Lavona Liggins working closely with four Vanderhoof area farmers with individual projects on their own farms. Dr. Tarasoff says the experience working with the farmers influenced the design and development of the manual.


She pointed out that although the manual Agriculture is our way of life too


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originated from forage production, the information would be useful for all food production. “It applies to livestock producers


orchardists, market gardeners – anyone who is involved in agriculture.” BCFC manager Sheri Schweb says the


manual has attracted a lot of interest from producers and researchers across the province and across Canada. “It lays out the basics of research allowing


anyone at any knowledge level to perform their own trials. Producers can use that valuable information to decide if their idea is a viable business venture before they ‘bet the farm.’ It’s a needed tool in the agriculture industry.” As an extension of the farm research trials, the BCFC is planning on adding forage study groups in regions where producers conduct their own research, she said. “The groups would get together once a month at different locations to share their experiences and methods. They might invite guest speakers with needed expertise, discuss challenges and successes and possibly go for pasture walks.”


BCFC will post a digital copy of the guide as


well as extra worksheets to its website [www.farmwest.com]. Schweb says producers are encouraged to submit their research results for the website – positive or negative – so that others can learn from their outcomes. Funding for the project has been provided


by the Investment Agriculture Foundation Climate Action Initiative, through the Growing Forward 2 program as well as the BCMA, BCFC, Omenica Beetle Action Coalition, Nechako Regional Cattlemen and the Nechako-Kitimaat Development Fund Society as well as Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, Agricultural Research and Development Corporation of BC and the Canadian government.


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